Murdered BSP leader`s wife, son quizzed

New Delhi: Delhi Police Wednesday said they have questioned around 20 people in connection with the murder of billionaire realtor and BSP leader Deepak Bhardwaj Tuesday. Those quizzed include his wife and younger son.

The 62-year-old real estate tycoon was shot dead by two unidentified men in his farmhouse here.

Bhardwaj`s wife was questioned because police wanted to know if she had a grudge against her husband since she was living separately in Dwarka with younger son Nitish for several months, a police officer close to the probe told IANS. The officer did not want to be named.

The officer said South Delhi special staff and local police also questioned Nitesh, 32, since he had filed a police case against his father some months ago and in turn, Bhardwaj had lodged a complaint against his son.

Police want to know the reason behind the cross-complaints. They are still working on the rivalry theory over property or family disputes, the officer said.

Investigators are also trying to find out Bhardwaj`s recent property and business deals and any disputes in these.

Police said the three assailants were hired shooters and are on the lookout for them based on CCTV camera footage from the farmhouse gate.

They are going through footage since the last one month. They have also sought Bhardwaj`s phone call details.
Bhardwaj, the richest candidate in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls with declared assets of over Rs.600 crore, was shot thrice from point blank range. The killers and an accomplice fled in a Skoda with a fake registration number.
They had entered the farmhouse on the pretext of meeting Bhardwaj to book a hotel in the farmhouse complex.